For generations of New Orleanians, City Park has been a sanctuary. Its oak canopy has looked down upon countless picnics, evening strolls and moments of repose and contemplation. Yet over the years, it has had to struggle to maintain its financial footing.

While City Park employees are used to hustling, never have they had to work as they have done over the past two years. And never have citizens so needed those acres of green as a respite from the pressures of city life.

Hurricane Katrina caused massive damage to City Park, with floodwaters remaining in much of the park for weeks. Following the hurricane, City Park’s work force was reduced by 90% to only 22 employees. Those remaining employees rolled up their sleeves to remove debris, gut and clean the park’s essential buildings, cut grass, and raise funds. As a result of their extraordinary efforts, City Park was able to put on its annual holiday tradition, Celebration in the Oaks, in time for Christmas 2005. For the over 40,000 people who attended, it was a much needed return to normalcy.

Since then, park employees have kept up the pace, working overtime and outside their job descriptions. Staff plunged into fund-raising and the pursuit of FEMA reimbursements. And everyone, the CEO included, has participated in grass-cutting and garbage pick-up. With millions in donations and federal aid coming in, the park has begun major replanting efforts and has completed major repairs of attractions at the southern end of the park.